Abutilon indicum (L .) Sweet is an annual or perennial shrub, and about 0.3-4 m high1,2. Leaves are ovate and toothed. Flowers are yellow, lobes ovate, solitary, axillary, and apiculate. Fruits are capsule. Stem is branched and pubescent. Seeds are reniform and black or brown in colour1.

Occurrence

A.indicum is distributed tropics and subtropics region of world3. It is also found in sub–Himalayan tract and in hotter areas of India1. In Pakistan, it is found in Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa3.

Ethnomedicinal Uses in Skin Diseases

Wound

Paste of Abutilon indicum(L.) Sweet (Indian mallow) leave is applied on the infected area for wound healing in District Sukkur (Sindh).

Roots are used against fever, heamaturia, and strangury. Flowers are used as a remedy for cough and in blood vomiting. Decoction of leaves is used as a mouth wash and for the treatment of bleedingpiles6. Leaves of the plant also have antimicrobial and antioxidant properties7.

Methanolic extract of leaves of A. indicumhave antifungal activity against trichophyton rubrum1. Plant is also reported for various other pharmacological activities, such as, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antithelimintic, diuretic, antiulcer6,analgesic, anti-arthritic8, and antineoplastic6 properties.